College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 2:16-18
b.
It was necessary for Christ to become human in order to sympathise with men through experience. Hebrews 2:16-18
Text
16 For verily not to angels doth He give help, but He giveth help to the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore it behooved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 2:16 Moreover, by no means doth He take hold of the angels who sinned, to save them; but of those who are the seed of Abraham by faith He taketh hold, to deliver them from death, and to conduct them to heaven.
Hebrews 2:17 Hence it was necessary He should be made like His brethren (Hebrews 2:11.) in all things, and particularly in afflictions and temptations, that, having a feeling of their infirmity, and being capable of dying, He might become a merciful as well as a faithful high-priest in matters pertaining to God, in order, by His death, (Hebrews 2:14.), to expiate the sins of the people, and to intercede with God in their behalf.
Hebrews 2:18 Besides by what He suffered Himself when tempted, He knows what aids are necessary to our overcoming temptations, so that He is able and willing, in the exercise of His government as king mentioned (Hebrews 2:9.) to succour them who are tempted.
Comment
For verily not to angels doth He give help
Jesus-' coming was for man, not angels.
It is also translated, He took not on Him the nature of angels. (KS)
a.
He did not, as the next verse verifies.
b.
He came not as an angel, but as man.
That He preferred us to angels was not owing to our excellency, but to our misery.
but He giveth help to the seed of Abraham
There are two groups for consideration:
a.
The physical seed.
1.
He came to the house of Israel, but this consideration alone limits the verse.
2.
The good tidings announced concerning the birth of the Saviour in Bethlehem was for all men.
b.
The spiritual seed, which includes all men of faith.
1.
Galatians 3:9: are of faith are blessed.
2.
Galatians 4:28: Now we, brethren. are children of promise.
3.
Romans 9:8: The children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.
Wherefore it behooved Him in all things
He felt a moral necessity, an obligation to do something for man:
a.
The nature of God, loving, just, merciful, would require God to seek man.
b.
Jesus was of the nature of God, so He would feel obligated to save man.
Two things should be considered in the expression, all things:
a.
Man has a twofold being.
1.
Flesh.
2.
Affection, feeling or emotion.
b.
Jesus came as flesh, and He had sympathy, feeling, and emotion.
to be made like unto His brethren
Who were His brethren?
a.
Some suggest His flesh and blood relatives.
b.
Some suggest His Jewish brethren.
c.
Some suggest His brethren in the church.
d.
His brethren in the fleshmankind in generalmay be considered, for the emphasis is on becoming like man, and not upon the word, brethren.
that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest.
Might become suggests that living in the flesh was needed in order to qualify Him:
a.
We do not like to limit Jesus, but from our standpoint we cannot now excuse ourselves and say that Deity does not know our feeling since Jesus suffered as man.
b.
We become the most sympathetic when we have experienced the same thing as the one who needs our sympathy. Merciful is suggestive:
a.
In Old Testament times, sin's punishment had no mercy. cf. Hebrews 10:28: Die without mercy.
b.
Jesus was merciful:
1.
His coming was an act of mercy.
2.
He showed compassion on earth.
a)
John 8:11: go and sin no more.
b)
Luke 7:13. He had compassion on her.
c)
Matthew 9:36: Jesus was moved with compassion.
c.
Since Christ experienced all of life, we readily believe that He will be merciful to us.
faithful
Christ proved His faithfulness:
a.
Luke 9:51: He stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
b.
Matthew 26:39: not My will but Thine be done.
c.
Matthew 26:52: Put up again thy sword into its place.
d.
Hebrews 3:2: Jesus. was faithful.
Jesus was faithful to His purpose in this life. Therefore we feel He will be faithful as our High Priest.
High Priest in all things
On earth He was our sacrifice, in heaven He is our High Priest:
a.
The High Priest on earth made sacrifices, then went into the Holy Place to make restitution for the sins of the people.
b.
Jesus serves in the Holy Place as our Priest.
1.
Hebrews 3:1: High Priest of our confession.
2.
Hebrews 10:21: having a great High Priest.
in things pertaining to God
Jesus had many opportunities to leave God's way:
a.
Men sought to make Him bow to their traditions.
b.
The devil sought to receive His devotion. Matthew 4 He was pleasing to God rather than to men:
a.
Baptism, Matthew 3:17: well pleased.
b.
Transfiguration, Matthew 17:5: well pleased.
c.
Acts 2:33: being at right hand of God.
to make propitiation for the sins of the people
The word, propitiation means a covering, an appeasement, and is also translated reconciliation.
a.
His atonement is referred to.
b.
This is the priestly function of Christ.
The Catholic Bible uses the word expiate.
For in that He Himself had suffered being tempted.
Alternate translations should be seen here:
a.
A.S. footnote: for having been himself tempted in that wherein He hath suffered.
1.
This suggests that there is suffering in temptation.
2.
Temptation here means no other thing than experience or probation, says Calvin. (p. 76)
a)
Jesus is a good example of the distress of the soul: Luke 22:44: great drops of blood.
Matthew 26:38: My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death.
b)
Men who are not dishonest, but have great temptations before them, undergo great distress of soul.
b.
Catholic Bible: Himself has suffered and has been tempted:
1.
This makes the experiences separate.
2.
Of course He did experience suffering apart from being tempted.
He is able to succor them that are tempted
There are three things needed by the one tempted:
a.
Strength to withstand.
1.
Philippians 4:13: through Christ.
2.
1 Corinthians 10:13: God. will not suffer: you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear.
3.
Ephesians 6:13: ... may be able to withstand.
b.
Consolation for the spirit.
1.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye.
2.
1 Peter 1:6-7: Rejoice.
3.
Romans 8:28: to them that love God, all things work together for good.
4.
c.
Deliverance.
1.
2 Peter 2:9: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly.
2.
1 Corinthians 10:13: a way of escape.
The Great Shepherd will walk down the valleys and will prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies.
Study Questions
301.
Does Christ help angels, according to this chapter (Hebrews 2:16)? Why not?
302.
Why would He help us instead of angels?
303.
Does this verse limit His help to the Jews?
304.
What is meant by seed of Abraham?
305.
Are we the seed of Abraham, too? cf. Galatians 1:1; Galatians 4:28; Galatians 3:7; Galatians 3:29; Romans 9:6-8.
306.
Hebrews 2:17 gives us another reason for Christ coming in human flesh. What is it?
307.
What is meant by behooved?
308.
What is meant by all things?
309.
What is characteristic of man besides flesh?
310.
Would all things refer to emotionlove, sympathy, etc.?
311.
How could Christ's life on earth make Him a merciful high priest?
312.
Was the Old Testament priesthood merciful? cf. Hebrews 10:28.
313.
Tell of Jesus-' compassion on earth.
314.
Are we the most sympathetic when we have suffered similar experiences?
315.
Tell of Christ's faithfulness.
316.
What might be included in all things?
317.
Is the expression, pertaining to God, significant?
318.
Did God ever express pleasure in Christ on earth?
319.
What is meant by propitiation?
320.
What does Hebrews 2:18 suggest about temptation? Does it describe its effect on the one tempted?
321.
Does all temptation come through suffering, or are two different things named here?
322.
What are the things needed by the person tempted?
323.
Do we have the promise of Christ's strength?
324.
Do we have consolation?
325.
Is there deliverance in Christ?
326.
What temptations did Jesus face?